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that thing is still safer than a car. by so much they aren't even in the same league.

unless you get hit be a car. because the car is the danger.

[-] MrSpArkle@lemmy.ca 2 points 17 hours ago

This thing will literally catapult you the second there’s a minor glitch.

[-] IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 2 points 17 hours ago

unless it goes at stupid car speeds, if you wear proper protection, those crashes shouldn't be too bad.

and they're going at stupid speeds, then tf did they expect.

And even then, it's still safer than a car. given than a car in an accident can kill a handful of civilians and keep the driver safe, that thing puts the driver in danger and at worst they might injure a passerby.

[-] xxce2AAb@feddit.dk 14 points 1 day ago

And, jokes aside, that dude is dressed to handle the fallout much better than anyone who ever got behind the wheel of a car.

Am actually really interested in the safety stats. Would guess on those things you aren't doing more than 40, so probably not too bad for rider vs e.g. motorbikes where the temptation is to crazy speeds. And with it being smaller/lighter than a car it's clearly safer for pedestrians and other vehicles.

[-] dermanus@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago

I briefly owned one of these. Mine topped out at 32 kph (20 mph) but most models went faster.

IMO the biggest risk is if you accelerate too hard the engine cuts out even if you're st high speed. And of course you're leaning forward when it happens because that's how you accelerate.

Isn't the biggest risk that you can't shift your weight enough in emergency braking? The stopping distance must be horrible.

[-] dermanus@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago

I never found the braking distance to be a problem. To brake you basically just sit down and it kicks the motor into reverse. Because it uses the motor to rebalance the other way its much faster than if it were something like a disc brake.

[-] whatsisface@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

Some of the more expensive ones are advertised to go 100+ kph

Yeah but how many users are actually that brave/stupid? 100kph feels FAST on a motorbike, I can't imagine how it feels on one of these 😬

what joke? I there is no way to say a car is safer than that.

[-] xxce2AAb@feddit.dk 3 points 1 day ago
[-] CatsPajamas@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago

Ideology is a hell of a drug lmao

[-] whatsisface@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I very strongly disagree. If you're taking those things on roads you are very, very much in danger. To brake you need to physically shift your entire body instead of just moving a hand or foot, and they have motor brakes instead of friction braking.

https://electrek.co/2025/10/16/new-electric-unicycle-hits-an-insane-93-mph-top-speed/

Cars don't get speed wobbles. Cars have 3 extra wheels in case one wheel hits something slippery.

Sure, they can go that fast, but that's not the primary mode of operation. Most of the time, I see these going ~10 mph, and I'll often pass them on my bicycle (I go 15-20 unless there are peds).

Going at unsafe speeds typically only impacts the rider, because they are small enough that peds can easily get out of the way. Going at unsafe speeds in a car puts other people at risk because they're big and often around other people.

Maybe these are an issue in other parts of the world, but they don't seem to be one in mine.

however you don't reach deadly speeds, while a car at its minimum speed is lethal to everyone outside of it

[-] CatsPajamas@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 day ago

You have no fucking clue what a deadly speed is. One of these hitting you kills you a significant portion of the time, and these will actively kill their riders at a way higher clip. This is a dumb hill to die on. Cars have elaborate safety standards. These do not.

[-] IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

that thing won't reach deadly speeds, especially if you wear protection.

the risk that riding that gives is from other cars.

even with all the elaborate safety standards, cars are more dangerous than cheap bikes who's only safety are helmets.

A bit telling how you mentioned care safety standards that are only for the driver and not the people around the car. Maybe think of other people

[-] CatsPajamas@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I HAVE LITERALLY SEEN THESE REACH DEADLY SPEED

Cars have safety standards for pedestrians. Oh my fucking God.

Lol, what safety standards for pedestrians? the only safety standards for cars regarding pedestrians is legal.

[-] whatsisface@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Check the article I linked please.

Or even just read the url.

this post was submitted on 26 Oct 2025
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